The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-11-16
The ANARCHISTS FATE.
Spies, Engel, Fischer and Par
sons Were Hanged. and
LINGG COMMITTED SUICIDE.
FieIden and Schwab to be impris-
oned for Life.

sPRlNGsIKLD, H.. Nov 1o.-The following
is heconIpleretext Of the Governors opinion
in thc Anarchist case;
THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
SPRIScfIELD. I'LL, Nov. 10. 1887.
ON the 10Th day Of August, 1856. in the
Cook County Criminal co,iri. August Spies
Albert r Parsons. Samuel Fielden. Michael
sciwab. Adoiph Fischer. Gevrge Engel and
Louis Lingg Were found guilty by the YER
dict of the jury and afterwards sentenced to
be hanged fer the murder of Matthias J
Degan.
An appeal was taken from such finding
and sent to the Supreme Court of the State.
That court, upon final hea ing. and after
mature deliberation.s unanimously affirmed
the Judgment of the court below. The case
now comes before me, by petition of defend
ants, for consideration as Governor of the
State, if the letters of Albert Parsons Adolph
Fischer, George Engel and Louis Lingg, de-
manding unconditional release, or as they
express it. . liberty or death, aud protesting
in the strongest language against mercy or
communication of the sentence pronounced
against them, can be considered petitions.
\ pardon, could it be granted, which might
imply any guilt whatever upon the part Of
either of them. would not be such vindica-
ton as they demand. Executive interven-
aion upon the grounds insisted upon by the
four above named persons could in no proper
sense bc deemed an exercise of the constitu-
tional power TO grant reprieves, commuta-
lions and parions unless based upon the be-
lief on my part Of their entire innocence OF
the crime of which they stand convicted.
A careful consideration of the evidence III
the record Of the trial Of the parties. as well
as Of alleged evidence claimed for them out
side of the record, has failed 10 produce upon
my mind any impression tending 10 impeach
the verdict the jury or judgment of the
trial court or of the Supreme court affirming
the guilt of the parties.
Satisfied. therefore as | am of their guilt,
| am precluded from considering the ques-
iion of commutation of the sentence of
Albert r. Parsons Adolph Fischer. George
Engel and Louis Lingg 10 imprisonment in
the penitentiary, as they empbatic,lIy de-
clare they will not accept such eommuta-
ton
Samuel Fielden, Michael Schwab and
August spies unite in a petition for Z" Execu-
tive clemency Fielden and schwab in
addition present separate and supplementary
petitions for the communication of their sen
tence
While as stated above am satisfied of
the guilt of all the parties as found by the
verdict of the jury; which was sustained by
the judgments of the courts. a most careful
consideration of the whole subject leads me
to the conclusion that the sentence of the
law as to Samuel FieIden and Michael
schwab may be modified as to each of them,
in the interest of humanity and without
doing violence 10 public justice
And as to the said Samuel Fielden and
Michael Schwab the sentence is commuted
To imprisonment in the Penitentiary for
life
As TO all the the other above named de-
PENDANTS do not feel justified in interfering
with the sentence of the court.
While | would gladly have come to
different conclusion in regard to the sentence
Of defendants August Spies, Adolph Fischer.
George Engel. Albert r Parsons and Louis
Lingg, | regret to say that under the solemn
sence to do obligations of my office | have
been unable To do 50